Chapter title page: Chapter 558, "Brother." The cover concludes Brook's Lodgings and Panties Repayment with the caption, "Conclusion: 'Satan Composes a Melody.'" Brook sits at a table with villagers dressed in dark, horned and occult-looking clothing, apparently writing or playing music while the villagers look on. This cover is separate from the Marineford battle, but it closes Brook's short cover serial after his strange arrival among the people who do not fight.
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Whitebeard questions Luffy about the message that Ace will be executed early: "They mean to execute Ace ahead of schedule!? Are you certain that is what you heard!?" Luffy answers that the Marines said they would do it when their preparations were ready, but he did not really understand the codes. He adds, "Since we both want to save Ace, I figure you should at least know that much!!" Whitebeard accepts the warning: "I see... This is indeed valuable information. I must thank you!!" Luffy says, "Nah, don't worry about it!!" and then shouts toward the platform, "I'm coming for you, Ace!" The pirates around them are stunned by Luffy's confidence and by how casually he talks with Whitebeard.
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Whitebeard reasons through Sengoku's plan, saying that the Marines do not feel the need to adhere to their promised schedule for a mere pirate, and that the "preparations" seem to be the key. Sengoku confirms that the pirate side intercepted a message to the Marine troops indicating Ace's execution time is to be moved forward, then notes calmly that this information reaching Whitebeard was undoubtedly part of their plan and that accidentally allowing a key strategy to be overheard is not a mistake he would make. Luffy charges ahead, but Kizaru fires at him and says, "If we don't capture you, the Tenryuubito will never let us hear the end of it, you know... Strawhat Luffy..." Marines shout that Admiral Kizaru has appeared and that Straw Hat Luffy is done for.
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Kizaru's attack blasts across the battlefield, but Ivankov intervenes with "Death Wink!!!" and redirects the danger with a huge shockwave. Kizaru only murmurs, "Hmmm~" while Buggy and the other escapees panic, screaming, "Noooo!!! I want to go hoooo-ooome!!!" Someone points out that Buggy had been acting like he wanted to send Kizaru crying home, and his followers call him the man on the Legendary Crew and say even Admiral Kizaru does not frighten him. Buggy protests that they are hearing only what they want to hear. Luffy thanks Ivankov, "That was close!! Thanks, Iva-chan!!!" and Ivankov answers, "I consider it my duty to see to it that you do not die!!"
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Luffy recognizes Bartholomew Kuma and shouts, "Ahh!! That's the guy who looks like a bear... The one who sent all of us flying!" Ivankov also sees him and cries, "Kuma!!!" Kuma attacks from the battlefield, and Ivankov counters with "Rolling Aesthetic!!" while spinning through the blast. Ivankov calls Kuma "Bartholomew Kuma...!!" and says, "How horrible!! Certainly, he has his duty to uphold as a member of the Shichibukai... but still, to fire a laser like that at an old friend like me...!!" Kuma stays silent, showing no recognition or mercy.
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Marines surge to stop Luffy, shouting that he is not getting away. Hina uses "Awase Baori!!!" and her cage-like power snaps around the path, with a note explaining that an awase-baori is a haori coat with lining and that here it is written as "wing-cage." Luffy recognizes her from Alabasta, yelling, "You!! I remember you from Arabasta!" Hina says, "All unlucky enough to pass through my body will be locked!!" and then, when Luffy slips through too quickly, admits, "So fast!! I couldn't see him move!! Hina outmatched!" Mr. 3 is caught in the black-bar cage and cries for Hina while Luffy keeps running toward Ace.
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Moria enters Luffy's path, ordering, "Come, my zombie minions!!!" and "Now, my zombies, go and capture Strawhat for me!!!" His stitched zombies rise into the battlefield, and Moria laughs that this is a battlefield where the more soldiers die, the more zombies he can create. He says he will take Luffy's shadow one more time and implant it into Oars. Luffy snaps, "Moria...!! Not that annoying guy again...!!" while Ace shouts, "Luffy...!!" Kizaru watches the struggle and tells the troops that Luffy is the one who freed all those prisoners, ordering them to take down Straw Hat and keep at it. Luffy pushes on through the undead attackers.
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Ace screams from the platform, "Stay back!!! Luffy!!!" Luffy keeps fighting and shouts at a Marine to move it, but Ace continues trying to drive him away. He tells Luffy, "I shouldn't have to tell you this!!! You're a pirate, just like me!! We've both sailed the ocean as our hearts guided us!!!" Whitebeard listens silently as Ace insists that Luffy should not be dragged into his fate. The page shifts from battlefield chaos to Ace's pride and shame, because he sees Luffy as an equal pirate whose choices should not be swallowed by Ace's execution.
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Ace continues, "I have my own adventure to live!!! I have my own nakama!!! I don't remember asking you to interfere!!!" Luffy and the others keep pushing through the Marines as Ace shouts, "A weakling like you... coming to save me!? Do you really believe I'm going to forgive you for that!!? This is humiliating!!! Get out of here, Luffy!!! Why did you come!!?" Jinbe and Ivankov listen as Ace's pain spills out. Ace pleads, "Please, Luffy... Don't let me drag you into this too...!!! This is my problem, not yours...!!!"
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Luffy rejects Ace's attempt to push him away, roaring across the battlefield, "'Cause I'm your brother!!!" Ace is stunned. A flashback recalls the ritual that made their bond: "Did you know? If you exchange drinks, you can form a bond of brotherhood! From today on, we are brothers!!" Young Ace and young Luffy smile together. In the present, Luffy adds, "I don't give a crap about those stupid pirate rules!!" Ace can only mutter, "You idiot, Luffy..." The page makes the chapter title explicit: Luffy is not there as a subordinate or ally, but as Ace's brother.
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The Marines are confused by Luffy's claim, asking, "Did he just say, 'brother'!? Then... he's Roger's son as well...!?" Another points out that both of Ace's parents died when he was born, so he could not possibly have a younger brother. Moria orders, "Attack, my zombies!!!" and the undead charge, but Jinbe steps in. The zombies recoil with cries of "Sea-water!!?" and Jinbe explains, "Those zombies of yours... I seem to recall salt was their weakness, right?" He uses seawater to neutralize them, and Luffy happily shouts, "Jinbe!!!" as Jinbe clears a path through Moria's forces.
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Sengoku declares Luffy's lineage to the entire battlefield: "Not only was he raised together with Ace as an adoptive brother, he is also... the flesh-and-blood son of the Revolutionary Dragon!!!" Marines and pirates react in shock: "The son of the Dragon!!?" and "Whaaa!!?" Ivankov realizes that explains how Luffy got him on his side, Smoker says it explains what happened at Loguetown, and others say Dragon's son makes sense now. Moria says he still could be the son of demons for all he cares, and Mihawk is hardly surprised. At Sabaody Archipelago, a report comes in, "Dragon... as in the Dragon!?" and a reporter says the whole world has to hear this. Luffy's name and parentage become global news as he charges onward using "Gear Third!!"
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Luffy inflates his arm and attacks a giant Marine with "Gomu Gomu~ Giant Rifle!!!" The punch crashes into the giant's face with a huge impact as Luffy screams, "I don't care what you say!!! I'm going to save you even if it kills me!!!" Ace cries his name from the platform. Whitebeard watches Luffy's determination and tells Marco, "Marco... don't you dare let that boy die..." Marco answers, "Roger that." Around them, the escapees cheer and Luffy shouts for Ace again, turning the rescue attempt into a full assault backed by Whitebeard's commanders.
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SBS page. A reader asks, "If Hancock met me, would she like me?" and Oda answers, "Are you Hannyabal!? You must be!!" Another reader asks if the three Admirals are modeled on specific Japanese actors: Aokiji on Matsuda Yusaku, Kizaru on Tanaka Kunie, and Akainu on Sugawara Bunta. Oda confirms this is exactly right, explaining that all three are famous Japanese actors and that he used Sugawara Bunta's face from A Fight Without Honor for Akainu, though the hat hides the distinctive crew cut. A final reader asks whether Bon-chan, while spinning in volume 55, chapter 183, seemed to be transforming into Pandaman and touched Pandaman's face. Oda says the reader is right, that Pandaman is there for just a moment, and wonders when they met because Bon-chan has lived a crazy life.